How do I find the best treatment for my psychosis?

Treatment for psychosis can be really effective. Finding the best treatment for you will help you focus on living the life you want and recover.

Finding the best treatment also means thinking about your symptoms and risk. For people with early psychosis symptoms making lifestyle changes like paying attention to sleep, exercise, and good nutrition can help reduce symptoms. Those who have symptoms that bother them, and they impact how they live their lives may try more medical treatment options like medication or specialty care.

No matter what treatment looks like for you, it’s helpful to have the support of your loved ones. It’s also a good idea to work with your doctor or mental health professional. This will make sure that you receive the best care possible.

Medication

It gave me my life back. Without that change in my treatment care, I’m not sure where I would be today. [Over the first] couple weeks to a month, my positive symptoms like virtually dissipated. I no longer had chronic psychosis. I no longer had those debilitating thoughts or delusions. I no longer had those hallucinations that robbed me of my own autonomy. I’ve gained so much from that switch in medication that I’m still continuing on this journey today.

Medication helps many people gain control over their psychosis symptoms and their lives. Medications, or antipsychotics, are used to treat psychosis. They work well and very quickly. People usually see their symptoms improve within a few weeks of starting medication. [1]

Antipsychotics reduce positive symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, or paranoid thoughts. There are also medications like Cobenfy or Vraylar that work to reduce negative symptoms like lack of motivation and social withdrawal.

There are many different types of antipsychotics on the market. For example, there are oral medications that you take by mouth and long-acting injections (LAIs). Some people prefer LAIs because they don’t have to remember to take a pill every day.

Everyone is different. So, it can take time and different meds to figure out what works best for you. Many medications have side effects. So, it’s important for you to communicate with your doctor about your experiences on medication. They may be able to prescribe something to help with the side effects or change your meds or dosage.

Social support

Having social support is important. Social support can help you manage your symptoms. Good social support can keep stress down, keep you connected to relationships that matter, or find people with similar experiences that you’re going through.

A trusted support system is something that helps make treatment successful. The people in your life can step in and pick up the pieces when you don’t feel like you can. They can remind you, encourage you, and inspire you.

Who are the people who can support you?

• Family and loved ones: Family and friends can support you when you need it. They can handle your medical needs, check-in, and provide stability. They can also be there for you when you don’t feel like you can be there for yourself.
• Trusted providers: Your trusted providers are also a part of your support team. This includes your doctor, psychiatrist, therapist, and whoever else you need. It’s helpful to make sure that your providers are on the same page. You can do this by communicating your questions and needs to all of them.
• Peers: Finding peers or others who have been through similar experiences is important too. Talking to people who understand can help you come up with solutions and strategies. They can also make you feel seen and heard. There’s something powerful about talking to people that you don’t have to explain things to, because they get it.

Remember when it comes to your support system, you are always worthy of respect and care. You have the right to make decisions for yourself and lean on support as well.

Specialty care teams

I think I credit a lot of my recovery and the aspect of navigating treatment to an early psychosis program that I was in ….[It’s] wraparound services. There’s multiple team members under the same roof.

I was very fortunate to have a psychiatrist and a therapist who sort of not only understood what it was but also were able to empathize and actually exercise judgment in and somewhat of my own best interest … through that program… I was able to learn more about myself,… go through an entire curriculum about schizophrenia and psychosis and what it meant, [and] learn more actually about [it.]

Specialty care teams or multidisciplinary teams are specialized programs for people who are in need or can benefit from a full team providing treatment. These programs are for people who are experiencing an episode. Or for someone who has received a diagnosis with psychosis in the past two years.

Specialty care teams provide a lot of services and resources to the people in the clinic including: [2]

• Education
• Treatment
• Support groups
• Research opportunities
• Medication management
• Other services not listed here

Depending on where you live, these teams might be called something else. They are also known as ACT teams, FSP teams, CSC teams, early psychosis teams, or first episode clinics.

If you need help with school, work, relationships, or family therapy, then it could be beneficial to get help from a specialty care team. People in these programs are also able to learn and understand more about psychosis. And they can regain the skills to recover and rebuild their lives. Multidisciplinary teams are also places where you can connect with peers. These are people who share similar experiences and stories.

Multidisciplinary teams are an impactful form of treatment for many people with psychosis. They provide the personalized and coordinated care that people need. They enable people to have a support team and find the treatment that works best for them.

Therapy

Therapy is another treatment that can help with psychosis. Finding a therapist who understands psychosis can make a big difference in your treatment.

Here are things that a good therapist can do to help you manage your psychosis:

• They communicate with your psychiatrist. Your psychiatrist is the mental health professional who manages your medication. It’s important that your therapist and psychiatrist communicate with each other. So, they can work as a team to provide the best treatment and care for you.
• They take a family approach. A good therapist knows that they are only one part of your support system. Taking a family approach to therapy helps to make sure that your family also understands your experiences and your needs.
• They consider your life experiences. A therapist who understands psychosis knows that you are more than your psychosis. They take into consideration all your life experiences. This includes co-occurring physical or mental health conditions, substance use, moods, or trauma. They see you as a whole human and understand that all these things impact your well-being.
• They understand that your symptoms have meaning. Psychosis symptoms are more than just symptoms. They are usually rooted in meaning, and a good therapist sees this. They understand your experiences in a larger context. And they don’t treat just symptoms as “symptoms.”

A good therapist can also help you manage different aspects of treatment. This includes lifestyle changes, medication management, social support, and specialty care teams.

Lifestyle changes

I prioritize quality of life focus treatment options, rather than focusing solely on complete symptom reduction. Also, maintaining a sense of identity beyond my diagnosis is something I find extremely important.

Lifestyle changes can aid in the treatment of psychosis. These changes look like creating consistent, healthy habits and routines to manage psychosis. Adding lifestyle changes to your life can help. They can make medication and other forms of treatment work better.

Most lifestyle changes that help with psychosis include:

• Getting good sleep
• Finding healthy ways to cope with stress
• Thinking about food, nutrition, and substance use

Making lifestyle changes can help boost your cognition. This means improving your ability to think, understand, and learn.

There are different medications, different coping strategies, and different individual needs for everyone. Finding the best treatment for your psychosis means reflecting on your specific needs and working with your support system. It may take time and patience, but it’s possible to find what works best for you.

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